In this episode, we cover the most current events in the Utah Legislative session. We discuss the following with Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools:

• HB 193 All-Day Kindergarten: This bill has changed significantly TODAY due to recognition that funding needs to be secured. The new bill will include an expansion of the Optional Extended Day Kindergarten (OEK) program. The intention will be to still require all LEAs to offer all-day kindergarten, but in 4 years or so through another bill.
• HB 475 Economic Stabilization Account Allocations: This bill will allocate the $250M one-time funds in the following manner:
• $50M buildings fund for small districts in rural Utah
• $30M building for Utah School for the Deaf and Blind
• $128M to all LEAs
  • Distributed 20% base funding (about $25K for charter schools) and 80% funding on student enrollment
  • Money is unrestricted but will require reporting on how it was spent.
• HB 396 Paid Professional Development
  • $25M one-time funding for LEAs (based on teaching force) to allow for professional development outside required school days.
• Budget
  • Funding still looks like increase of 5% WPU, very likely could be as high as 7%.
  • LRF increase 7%.
• Discussion about message bills, bill proposal, and what representation means. (We go deep!)

Contact Royce at royce@utahcharters.org with any comments/concerns about bills.
See www.utahcharters.org/legislative-updates for Watchlist of bills (under Advocacy tab).